William Fletcher Etheridge

1872-1951


William F. Etheridge
William Fletcher Etheridge dIed at the Jackson Madison County General Hospital in Jackson at 9: 30 Sunday morning, March 11, 1951. Brother Etheridge was a faithful gospel preacher and had been active in his work until last October when he suffered a heart attack. He was seventy-eight at the time of his death.

He was born in Henry County, near Paris, Tenn. He was married to Miss Ida French Frazier who passed from this life in 1932. Later, he married Miss Edna Ruth Stockard, who survives at this time. Fifty-five years of Brother Etheridge's life were spent in preaching the gospel. He preached for churches in Johnson City, Tenn., Huntsville. Ala., Birmingham, Ala., Springfield, Ill., Murray, Ky., Chattanooga, Tenn., Avon Park, Fla., South Parkway in Memphis, Tenn., and many others. DUring his ministry he was instrumental in establishing many congregations. He lived at Middleton Tenn., for twenty years and was known and loved by everyone in Hardeman County.

The last four years of his life were spent in Jackson, Tenn. Here he did evangelistic work until the time of his death. Funeral services were held at the Middleton Church, Monday, March 12. The writer officiated, with A. E. Emmons, Jr., of Union City. Tenn., and O. D. Johns of Highland Avenue Church in Jackson assisting. Besides his wife he is survived by four daughters, three brothers, two sisters, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. The "Preacher" is gone from this life but his influence will live for many years to came.

WILLIAM E. WARDLAW.
12 April 1951 Gospel Advocate, p. 237

Long Range Results of One Decision
Rhodes.-Mrs. Bettie Rhodes. born December

My mother learned the story of how her family became Christians. Her uncle, William "Will" Etheridge, left home as a teenager and went to work in a small town. Seeking social excitement, he bought season tickets to the local dance hall.

As he was walking to the first dance, he came by a brush arbor where a gospel meeting was in progress. It was too early for the dance and the preacher sounded interesting, so he decided to take a seat and listen awhile.

He had never heard preaching like this before. He was very impressed with the Bible truths presented and decided to become a Christian that night. He tore up his tickets to the dance and made his life-long commitment to Christ.

He went back to his home near Paris, Tennessee, and converted his father, step-mother, brother, sisters, half brothers and sisters. This occurred around the year 1890. Through his influence, over 100 of his family's descendants have become Christians.

But this is not the end of his story. Will Etheridge then went to (Johnson Bible) College and became a gospel preacher. He preached for about 55 years in several states and held gospel meetings in many places including Springfield, Missouri.

We never know how the future of our world can change because of our deciding today, either to serve God or to fulfill our worldly desire.

David Guthery, The World Evangelist, Feb. 1992

William Fletcher Etheridge
By Frances Ann Johnson, granddaughter and FHU graduate

William Fletcher Etheridge, called "Will" or more of often known as W. F. Etheridge, was born near Paris, Tenn., May 20, 1872 and died in Jackson, Tenn. March 11, 1951. It was said that he preached 55 years, but those last few years he did not do much preaching on account of health.

He attended Johnson Bible College near Knoxville, Tenn. where he met and later married Ida French Frazier around 1896. She was from a farm on Kingston Pike near Knoxville. The moved to McConnell, Tenn. where he preached several years and the to Hazel, Ky., on to Murray, Ky. Where it is said he helped start the church. They went from there to Sharon, Tenn., on to Latham, Tenn., and then to Martin, Tenn. staying only a few years at each place.

In 1920, he moved to Middleton, Tenn. and then to Bolivar where he had to hold services in the court house as there was no church there at the time. He moved back to Middleton and built a home where he raised chickens and had a strawberry patch to help with his living. It was said that he was $5 a Sunday at Middleton, but he also preached on Sunday afternoons at Lacy, Bethany, or other country churches, and since Ida was in poor health, he would take Peggy and me with him. He also preached for the church at Tiplersville, Miss. during this time and enjoyed the hospitality of the Tip Thornton family whose son, J. A. Thornton later became a gospel preacher.

His next move was to Chattanooga, Tenn., then Huntsville, Ala. Later, he preached one year in Avon Park, Fla., where he went for his health leaving Ida in Middleton. That was before we had canned juices and be brought back quarts of grapefruit juice that the ladies canned for him.

Ida died in 1932 from a stroke at the age of 60. This left him very lonely so he moved to Milan, Tenn. to preach where he met and married Edna Ruth Sockard, lady of about 40 years of age who lived with and cared for her mother. This was in 1933, so he had not only a wife but a mother-in-law also to bring back to Middleton. Edna was a wonderful wife to him and after a few years they moved to Memphis where he spent about two years preaching for the church at North Parkway. Then back to Middleton which was his headquarters.

In 1946, they sold the home in Middleton and moved to Jackson, Tenn., but I don't know what church he worked with there. He died in 1951 at the age of 78 and was buried by Ida in Middleton City Cemetery where a picture is on his tombstone.

The story is told that while living in Sharon, Tenn., their son, Mark, who was 14 years old and other boys where playing ball in the yard one Sunday afternoon. Papa Etheridge was off preaching. A train whistle blew and the boys all knew that a Boy Scout's body was being brought in on the train, so they took off running to the depot. Mark stopped to ask Mamma Etheridge if he could go too and said," Well Son" and he took off. He had not finished as she had meant to say, "I had rather you not go." He and his little dog were running along beside the engine when the engineer began pouring hot water on the dog. Mark tried to grab the dog and somehow fell und the engine, and his body had to be picked up in a basket. When Papa Etheridge returned from his engagement that was the news he received. Both parents were devastated. Mama had high blood pressure after that and the doctor told Papa to get a job during the week to keep him busy so he put in a saw-mill for a few years. After that, they moved to Middleton in southern West Tenn.

Papa was well-liked by everyone. Many from the Methodist church would come to hear him preach. He hand-sorted his strawberries so he had no problem selling them. Many people would give him produce when he came back to visit. I especially remember one Christmas when I went with him out to Mr. Alex Pulse's home to pick up a special Christmas turkey and he was just a friend who thought a lot of Papa.

He was always very neat and well-dressed and carried himself with dignity.

When they moved to Jackson, Tenn., they bought a large house and rented one side for an apartment. Edna baby-sat for the couple who rented, and they treated the child as if he were their own. He is the one spoken of as the "stranger" taken in an article in the World Evangelist in Feb. 1992.

Papa had four daughters to live to adulthood and nine grandchildren.

1. May Etheridge Crawford lived in Bolivar and died at 98.
2. Ruth Etheridge Cornelius of Middleton died at age 74.
3. Winnie Etheridge Scott of Middleton died at 95.
4. Myrtle Etheridge Grimmitt of New Orleans died at 65.

There are seven grandchildren still living.

1. Frances Cornelius Johnson is 81 and lives in Manchester, Tenn.
2. Bill Crawford is 78 and lives in Bolivar, Tenn.
3. Bob Scott is 77 and lives in Middleton, Tenn.
4. David Crawford is 74 and lives in Fallon, Missouri.
5. Joe Cornelius is 74 and lives in Middleton, Tenn.
6. Patsy Crawford Smith is 71 and lives in Lakeland, Tenn.
7. Peggy Crawford Shearin had two strokes and is 81 and in Pine Meadows in Bolivar.

All are Christians and there are numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

I have no idea of all the places where Papa Etheridge held meetings.

Edna lived on and married three more times, two of which were short lived. The last marriage was to Paul Tucker. She told him that she could not marry him because she had buried three husbands and she could not stand to bury another. He told her that he was a little younger than she was and that he would care for and bury her. They had several happy years together and he did just that. He cared for her and according to her wishes buried her next to her mother in Greenfield, Tenn. at the age of 90.

P.S. I now realize that the move to Chattanooga and Huntsville should follow the first move to Middleton, then back to Middleton and later to Bolivar, etc.

Various Notes:
* Preached at Marlow - Walnut, Miss. Joe Alley - Miss. churches.
* "Eld. Will Etheridge will preach at Lebannon." http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnweakle/newspaper_1905sep.htm Dresden Enterprise Newspaper
* Mr. Will Etheridge has gone to assist Bro. Long in a protracted meeting, near Pilot Oak, Ky. Dresden Enterprise Newspaper http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnweakle/newspaper_1904_August.htm.

Burial

W. F. Etheridge is buried in the Middleton, Tenn. City Cemetery.

His Father
His father was Emerson Etheridge, one of the pioneers of Weakley County, Tenn.

Out Of My Memory . . . Will Ethridge At Kimery
Basil Overton, The World Evangelist, 1984

When I was growing up my father spoke admiringly of Will Ethridge more than any other preacher. He had directed singing when he was quite a young man in series of meetings in which brother Ethridge did the preaching.

One of those meetings was in a tent in the Kimery Community about five miles west of Greenfield, Tennessee more than 65 years ago. Dad said 40 were baptized in that meeting. I believe that was the beginning of the Kimery congregation where in 1941 I responded to the Lord's call when T. R. Boley was preaching.

Will Ethridge preached at Kimery one Sunday more than 40 years ago. His subject was The New Birth. He spoke plainly what our Lord said about the new birth as recorded in John chapter three. I was pleased that I got to hear the man preach about whom I had heard my father say so many good things.

Margie and I visited in the home of brother Ethridge and his wife Edna while I was a student. at Freed- Hardeman College. He had a good sense of humor. He loved the Lord and preached his word many years. Last year I paused at his grave in Middleton, Tennessee and reflected on those many years he went about doing good.

I rejoice in the hope that he and my Dad are together in the land of perpetual day and delight, and that they are recalling with joy their service together in spreading the gospel of salvation.

- The Editor

Last Update: 07/23/10 - Copyright Tom L. Childers